The House & Things to Know Before You Arrive

Every home has its little quirks. Here are the ones for Arriscastres, so you can quickly feel at home.

Important information:
The water is drinkable, untreated, and likely some of the best in France, coming from a natural spring. Enjoy it :)

☕ The Kitchen

No electric coffee machine here! But two much better options: a moka pot and a French press.
The proportions are simple, we’ll let you discover your favorite.

For the moka pot, don’t forget to use the small adapter plate, it’s needed for induction.

And one last thing we always forget: please remember to turn on the extractor hood when cooking.

Thank you!

🛋️ The Living Room

The projector. Please read this carefully.
There’s only one rule but it’s important: never pull the screen all the way down. If it gets stuck, it’s €200 to replace it.

The correct method:

• Turn on the projector first

• See where the beam lands

• Lower the screen only halfway (about 1 meter)

The wood stove, the heart of the house
This is what heats the entire home. If you’re not sure how to light it, check the FAQ : everything is explained step by step.
One absolute rule: the stove door must remain closed at all times.

🛏️ The Master Bedroom

A king-size bed (220 × 200 cm): plenty of space to stretch out.

The room has its own electric stove.
For the flame effect (yes, it’s water creating the illusion), check the water level and refill if needed.

Tip:
It heats the room very well, go easy on the temperature unless you want to wake up in your own personal heatwave.

Les exterieurs

🛏️ Large Bedroom (Left)

A large 180 × 200 cm bed, plus a 180 × 200 cm sofa bed, perfect for families or friends traveling together.

Blankets are available in the sofa bed for cooler nights.

Look up and you’ll see the exposed beams (around 200 years old).
We chose to keep them visible ; they’re part of the soul of the house.

🛏️ Bedroom with Desk

A 180 × 200 cm bed, a small futon, and a desk.

Ideal for anyone needing to work a bit during their stay, or for a child who wants their own space.

☂️ The parasol : Please close it at the end of the day or when the wind picks up. Thank you

🔥 The fire pit : We love evenings around the fire. One simple rule: Only use wood from the large box labeled “Help yourself”.
The house firewood is not meant for this, it’s expensive and we need it. If you run out, we can sell you more, just send us a message.

🎯 Games (for kids and adults): Mölkky, board games, darts, football goals for kids, everything is there. Help yourselves and enjoy!

If something is broken, not working properly, or you have an idea to improve the experience, tell us!
We’re always happy to make things better.

Ground Floor

1st Floor

Floor Plan

Sauna

Photos coming soon : still under construction!

A wood-fired sauna with mountain views.

The concept is simple and traditional:

• Light the stove

• Wait until it’s properly hot

• After 1.5 to 2 hours, pour water over the stones

  
  

The steam does the rest.

One session is included per stay (wood included).
Additional sessions: €5 each.

What you need to know:

🪵 Plan ahead: Allow 1.5 to 2 hours of heating time. Light the stove, go for a walk, and come back when it’s hot.

💧 Water on the stones: pour slowly, not all at once. The experience is something you control, not something to rush. A thermometer and a hygrometer are available in the sauna.

🌙 Quiet after 10 PM: our neighbors are our friends, we can’t stress this enough.

Hot Tub

Photos coming soon : still under construction!
This is not a jet or bubble jacuzzi. It’s a Nordic stone hot tub, rustic, local, wood-fired from the top.

The view over the mountains is incredible.
It’s a moment of complete relaxation.

One session is included per stay (wood included).
Additional sessions: €5 each.

What you need to know before getting started:

🪵 Plan ahead: allow 2 to 3 hours of heating time before you can enjoy it. Fire, wood, hot water, it’s all part of the experience.

💧 You’re in control: filling, draining, lighting the fire. There’s a valve to open and close.

🌿 No products in the water: no soap, oils, or bath foam… nothing. The water flows directly into our groundwater. Thank you for respecting this.

⛰️ Spring water: depending on the season, the Nordic spa may not always be available. The mountain decides.

🌙 Quiet after 10 PM: as with everything else, our neighbours are our friends.

The Renovation

8 months of work.
Crooked walls, original beams preserved, and everything else rebuilt by eight hands.
Here are a few glimpses of the journey.

The House Has Its Stories

🚪 A heritage door
It was here long before us and will be here long after.
We don’t touch the door.

📐 The walls aren’t straight… and that’s OK
We quickly realized right angles here are more of a suggestion. Every shelf, every piece of furniture, every installation was a negotiation with the house. The house always had the final say.

🏡 Arriscastre. That’s the name of the house.
Locals have always called it that. It comes from the family who lived here before us. We kept it. It belongs here.

💰 The missing treasure. While breaking down the walls, we secretly hoped to find hidden treasure. Gold bars, something. We found nothing. We’re still disappointed.

🧀 The cheese cellar The cellar used to age cheese made on-site.
The smell took a while to go away. We’re not saying it’s a flaw.